Defenseman will compete for job in Traverse City

DETROIT – Red Wings general manager Ken Holland was busy Tuesday, shoring up perhaps the best defensive unit in the NHL by signing Chris Chelios in the morning and Kyle Quincey – to a two-year deal –later in the day.

Chelios has been an outstanding influence on the Red Wings' young defensemen, like Kyle Quincey (right).

Chelios, the second oldest player to ever play in the NHL, is returning for his 25th season.

The 6-foot-2 Quincey will be among 10 defensemen that will head to training camp in Traverse City in less than two weeks. Holland has already said the team will dress the best six defensemen on game nights, and it’s likely that he still might have to move one of them to make room under the salary cap.

Quincey, 23, has played in 13 regular-season games with one goal over the last three seasons with the Wings. A big, physical defenseman, Quincey has compiled 16 goals, 59 assists and 382 penalty minutes in three campaigns with the Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.

He gained valuable experience in the 2007 playoffs, playing in 13 games, when the Wings’ defensive corps suffered injuries to Niklas Kronwall and Mathieu Schneider.

A hand injury in training camp last season hindered Quincey’s NHL progression. All six games that he played last season were in February when the Wings had their long stretch of injuries.